McCabe sparks Rangers to key win over Isles

In a game of trading chances, the game-changer, Rangers coach John Tortorella said, came from Bryan McCabe.

Ryan Callahan had scored at 11:31 of the second period to restore the lead for the Rangers, whose two-goal cushion disappeared on goals by Islanders forwards Matt Moulson and P.A. Parenteau in the first 3:30 of the period.

With the Rangers on a power play, Michael Grabner, the swift winger who leads NHL rookies in goals with 28, was speeding through center ice, pursued by McCabe. The 15-year veteran caught up with Grabner, dislodged the puck and sent a pass the other way to Marian Gaborik, who whistled a wrister past the stick of Al Montoya for a two-goal edge, sparking the Rangers' 6-3 victory last night at the Garden.

McCabe scored his first goal in eight games as a Ranger four minutes later on a five-on-three, the Rangers' third power-play goal in as many opportunities.

"I thought Caber really stood out tonight,'' Tortorella said, "obviously made some good passes, scored a big goal.''

So for the fourth time in five meetings this season, the Rangers beat their suburban neighbors in a game in which the Blueshirts played as if they were in the playoff hunt. The Islanders are not, and it showed.

Brandon Prust scored shorthanded and Erik Christensen added a power-play goal as the Rangers -- with a season-high 21 first-period shots -- took a 2-0 lead and dominated the second.

"We were taking it to them and we kinda got a little cocky there, trying to be too cute," said Prust, tied for the league lead in shorthanded goals with five. "It was good to see us bounce back, but we can't do that in these last games, we have to make sure we play a full 60 [minutes]. We played a full 55 today."

That turned out to be enough. The Rangers (37-30-4, 78) took over sole possession of seventh place in the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of the Sabres, who lost last night. The young Islanders (27-33-11) have just 65 points as their long shot playoff hopes took a hit.

"We won a big game,'' Tortorella said. "It's a hard game to play, that team is just feeling good about itself, there's really not a lot of pressure on them. We found a way to win, but we have to clean up some of our defense and play more consistently.''

Henrik Lundqvist, who made 25 saves, helped end two Islanders streaks. They had played seven consecutive one-goal games on the road and recorded at least one point in each of their previous seven games (4-0-3).

"We knew there was going to be momentum swings throughout the game," said Callahan, who scored his 21st to snap the 2-2 tie, when Anisimov slid the puck through the crease behind goalie Montoya as defenseman Bruno Gervais lost track of the right wing.

Nathan Lawson replaced Montoya to start the third period and Gaborik scored his second of the game and 20th of the season at 12:43. He is 6-3-9 against the Islanders this year.

"We have to start stringing some wins together at home," said Callahan (the Rangers are 16-16-3 at the Garden), "especially if we're going into the playoffs, home ice is a big spot."

After a five-on-five scrum with 2:10 left, the home crowd chanted "Sea-son's o-ver." Not quite. The final game of the season series is March 31 at the Coliseum.